Police: Sheppton man pushed police officer assisting resident girlfriend off porch
SHEPPTON – A Sheppton man is in Schuylkill County Prison, accused of pushing a police officer off his porch, who was assisting his resident girlfriend in gathering belongings.
Dennis Antonelli, 43, of 11 West Brandon Street, is facing felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor resisting arrests, terroristic threats, and simple assault charges, along with summary harassment.
According to the criminal complaint filed by East Union Township Patrolman Christopher Dimmick, police were contacted by Antonelli’s girlfriend around 9pm Saturday, who was afraid of the man after he’d been drinking all day and they’d gotten into verbal arguments.
She said Antonelli texted her telling her to find somewhere else to stay that night and that her stuff would be put in the yard if she came back. She also said he threatened to shoot anyone she may bring that “he doesn’t like.”
The girlfriend asked that police accompany her and observe as she gathered belongings so she could stay elsewhere. She was accompanied by Dimmick and Shenandoah Patrolman Hugh Clinton.
Antonelli refused to let the girlfriend inside, despite her residency there, and refused a compromise police offered in which he could gather the belongings on his own. At that point, he closed the door on the officers.
The girlfriend was told that it was her decision if she still wanted to gather belongings, and she told police she still wanted to.
The two officers escorted her to the door, who informed Antonelli she, as a resident, had the right to enter, at which point Antonelli pushed Dimmick off the porch, down five steps, according to the complaint.
A struggle then ensued as the two officers attempted to take Antonelli into custody, and OC spray was deployed.
Antonelli was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge James Reiley and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $20,000 cash bail.
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